The 2019 T20 Champions, Asian Lions Cricket Club who took on Gujarat Cricket Club at the Kingtom Oval on Sunday March 14th 2021 sent out a strong message as title contenders in the one day league.
Putting 203 runs on the scoreboard, the Asian Lions were very firm in their batting. Waqas Khan, with disciplined batting, scored 81 runs off 70 deliveries; Mohammed S. Khan scored 35 runs off 35 deliveries and as well Lansana Lamin added 30 runs off 33 deliveries.
The fielding side, Gujarat, was able to limit the Asian Lions to 230 runs for nine wickets in their 35 overs. Ramji took three wickets in seven overs and Naran, Arvind, and Kishor took a wicket apiece.
In response, only the Gujarat opening batsmen were close to the game plan as the rest of the others were unable to meet the challenge. Arvind scored 31runs off 34 deliveries and Rajendra scored 22 runs off 43 deliveries.
The Asian Lions used their bowling strength to win the match by 99 runs, taking all of Gujarat’s 10 wickets in 26.2 overs with only 132 runs on the scoreboard.
In 3.3 overs, Rahul Vaigya took a marvelous three wickets as Gopal Singh and Ishmail Koroma took two wickets apiece. Waqas Khan’s 81run innings for the Asian Lions saw him as the clear winner of the player of the match award.
However, an epic six run win for Middleton Cricket Club over Murray Town Cricket Club on Saturday March 13th, showed the best in some young talented players.
Electing to bat after winning the coin toss were the Middeltons. Although only batting for 22 overs, they still managed a healthy run rate and put 149 runs on the scoreboard. It was still a disappointing batting performance from the Middleton youngsters; no player was able to score above 20 runs throughout their innings.
A strong bowling performance from Murray Town ended the Middleton innings in 22 overs all out. Saffa Koroma took three wickets in four overs, while John Lamin and Charles Kamara took two wickets apiece.
Replying to the Middleton score, Murray Town played calmly with an easy approach but fell short along the way. Kewulay Koroma, with a superb half-century off just 41 deliveries, boosted the morale of his team when hopes were sinking.
But the bowling of Middleton prevented Murray Town from achieving their target; they were limited to a score of 143 all out in 23.1 overs, with Nyakeh John Bull and Alfred Ndanema both superb with the ball, taking three wickets apiece.
In the match, some erratic bowling was made from both teams with Middleton giving away 58 extras while Murray Town gave away 40 extras in a low scoring match.
Nyakeh John Bull of Middleton Cricket Team won the man of the match award.